Looks like Hossa's out for Monday

Marian Hossa got injured against Colorado on Monday with what is believed to be a shoulder injury. He likely will not play when the Hawks take on Los Angeles at the United Center next week.Associated Press

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said after practice Friday that Marian Hossa likely wouldn't play Monday against Los Angeles at the United Center.

Hossa didn't practice because of what is believed to be an injured shoulder suffered in Monday's win at Colorado.

"Hopefully he'll get on the ice on Sunday," Quenneville said. "He's progressing."

Quenneville has no worries that the injury is a long-term thing.

Meanwhile, Patrick Sharp skated on his own before Friday's practice.

"He's progressing, but it's still not close," Quenneville said.

When asked if Sharp were a week to two weeks away from playing, Quenneville said: "I guess we're probably somewhere in that frame."

Bollig gets high marks:

It was probably the best week of Brandon Bollig's brief NHL career.

Bollig had a career-high 4 shots in Monday's win at Colorado, then followed it up with an even better performance in Wednesday's loss at Anaheim.

Bollig nearly scored a goal in the third period that would have given the Hawks a 3-1 lead, but it was ruled in Toronto that he made a distinct kicking motion with his skate.

"That (fourth) line had a really good trip," Joel Quenneville said of Bollig, Marcus Kruger and Michael Frolik. "They had a lot of good offensive zone time.

"I thought (Bollig) had a great trip. They were very useful all four games and a lot of times they were against the other team's top line and ended up in the offensive zone for a lot of their shift. He gives us some toughness, some presence, but technically he plays the team game to a T and he got a little bit more (ice time) based on how he played."

Blackhawk Nation:

Cubs fans have always traveled well and so now do Hawks fans.

The crowds on the recent four-game road trip were so pro Hawks that Joel Quenneville couldn't help but take notice.

"Very noticeable," Quenneville said Friday. "I know we had the chants going in Colorado and had the chants in Anaheim. You see Blackhawk fans going to games in the cities and they're very noticeable at the games. I know in Anaheim we had a nice following, Colorado was out there, Dallas and Columbus as well. They are there. We see them everywhere and I would say this year it's been more than we've ever seen."

The stretch run:

With 18 games to play, the Hawks' primary goal is not to win the Western Conference but to make sure they are developing their team game for the playoffs.

"We'll take the same approach we've had all year long and prepare going into games to win that game," Joel Quenneville said. "Reinforcing our team game is a priority going down to the end here, how we play technically, and doing the right things."

"It's tough to put emphasis on points or anything, especially with the start we had," Patrick Kane said. "Who knows how good this team can be? I think the emphasis should be on just keep getting better, try to get healthy and see what we can do in the playoffs."

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